GOP senator: No evidence to support Trump vote-fraud claims

A key Republican senator says he saw no evidence to support President Donald Trump’s baseless claim that Democrats are trying to “steal” the election and called the president’s words “very disturbing.”

Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, whose state is a key battleground in the presidential election, says “there’s simply no evidence anyone has shown me of any widespread corruption or fraud” to support Trump’s claim Thursday of fraud in balloting.

“The president’s speech last night was very disturbing to me because he made very, very serious allegations without any evidence to support it,” Toomey tells “CBS This Morning.”

He adds: “I voted for President Trump. I endorsed President Trump. I want the next president to be the person who legitimately wins the Electoral College and I will accept whoever that is.”

Trump, who has complained for weeks about mail-in ballots, escalated his allegations late Thursday, saying at the White House that the ballot-counting process is unfair and corrupt. Trump did not back up his claims with any details or evidence, and state and federal officials have not reported any instances of widespread voter fraud.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell strikes a neutral tone: “Every legal vote should be counted,” he tweeted. “All sides must get to observe the process.”

— AP